I decided to purchase a solder pot to tin some new Litz tonearm wire. Only paid around $15 on eBay; bought some 60/40 bar solder and filled the pot around 75% of capacity. Put it aside and came back a week later. When I heated it up, there is now a film of discolored solder on the surface; below that the solder is bright and shiny.
The Litz seems to tin OK, but should I be concerned about the scum?
The Litz seems to tin OK, but should I be concerned about the scum?
50 years ago I saw my father grind some charcoal and put it in the solder pot to remove oxygen from the surface of the melted metal ...
I cannot tell if you should do the same ... but at the time it was a solution to this problem.
I cannot tell if you should do the same ... but at the time it was a solution to this problem.
Hot metal always oxidizes. (Unless you can afford to melt Gold etc.)
Just skim it off.
My reaction is that a solder-pot is *DANGEROUS*. A knock-over is *2nd degree* or worse burns over large parts of the body, and possible fire on papers or plastic carpeting. Lead fumes from a pot are non-negligible. If you knew this, good; but lurkers should know of the dangers.
I can not imagine why you need it 75% full to tin some little wires. I'd just tap them on the soldering iron (in a holder) and tap solder on them.
Just skim it off.
My reaction is that a solder-pot is *DANGEROUS*. A knock-over is *2nd degree* or worse burns over large parts of the body, and possible fire on papers or plastic carpeting. Lead fumes from a pot are non-negligible. If you knew this, good; but lurkers should know of the dangers.
I can not imagine why you need it 75% full to tin some little wires. I'd just tap them on the soldering iron (in a holder) and tap solder on them.
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This is normal. Use a piece of aluminum as a tool to skim off the surface, before each Litz tinning.
It's best to have good ventilation when using a solder pot.
I agree that a solder pot can be dangerous, but so can all soldering and desoldering tools. As to the 75% fill, the pot is only 36mm wide and about 30mm deep, probably takes about 2oz of solder. The sides of the pot are heated. Importantly, I've had medicore success in tinning litz wire with a soldering iron, each strand is coated and has to be tinned to get full connectivity. Also it strips (melts/burns) 33/34 awg insulation eadily. IMO, a solder pot is the right tool for the job. Same for teflon wire, but not as critical.
> about 2oz of solder
2 ounces molten solder in my lap is different from the drops of solder I fling off my iron.
> use eye protection
Yes, and I would put on my canvas snow-suit, even if the pot were bolted to a bench bolted to the wall.
Of course my g-g-grandfather survived a career around half-tons of molten brass.
2 ounces molten solder in my lap is different from the drops of solder I fling off my iron.
> use eye protection
Yes, and I would put on my canvas snow-suit, even if the pot were bolted to a bench bolted to the wall.
Of course my g-g-grandfather survived a career around half-tons of molten brass.
At least keep the pot covered with a metal cap as much as possible .... less oxygen will get in and less oxyde will be produced ... then if you need to reduce oxygenn further use some reactive to grab oxygen ...
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